Statoil has awarded Aker Solutions early phase studies for all their recent major discoveries on the Norwegian Continental Shelf; the Skrugard and Havis fields in the Barents Sea and the Johan Sverdrup discovery in the North Sea. Contract values are undisclosed.

The past year has been unique, with Johan Sverdrup (formerly named Aldous/Avaldsnes) as the largest out of several new discoveries in mature areas in the North Sea, and the renewed optimism for exploration in the Barents Sea, with the Skrugard and Havis discoveries.

Aker Solutions will perform a concept study for the Skrugard and Havis fields, as one of several vendors. The two fields, which are located only 4.3 miles (7 kilometers) apart, will be developed as a joint solution. The work on the Johan Sverdrup field development is a feasibility and screening study.

"These projects have been amongst our main target projects for 2012, so we are extremely pleased that we have won the contracts," said Henning Østvig, senior vice president of front end & technology in Aker Solutions. "The development in the Barents Sea really hits the core of our competence, with floating installations in a harsh and arctic environment. And of course we are enthusiastic to be part of the development of one of the largest oil field discoveries on the Norwegian continental shelf ever - the Johan Sverdrup field," said Henning Østvig.

Opportunities up north

The concept study for the Skrugard and Havis development will be executed by Aker Solutions in Oslo, with participation from its new engineering office in Tromsø.

"The establishment of the Tromsø office is part of Aker Solutions' overall strategy to increase our footprint in the northern regions of Norway, driven by the increasing number of interesting field development opportunities offshore Northern Norway and in the Barents Sea," said Østvig.

Aker Solutions' operations in the north of Norway are increasing, and the company is now present in Sandnessjøen, Tromsø, Hammerfest and Narvik.

As a part of the concept study for the Skrugard and Havis fields, Aker Solutions will on behalf of Statoil perform a screening of potential scope to be performed by local suppliers in the northern regions for the developments ahead. The screening will be led by the Tromsø office, and could expand the ripple effects of increased oil and gas activities in the northern regions of Norway.

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